Senior Scientific Writer - Medical and Scientific Communications

Senior Scientific Writer I

Job Description Summary

This is a senior scientific writing role responsible for independently managing and delivering complex medical and scientific communication projects across multiple deliverable types and therapeutic areas. The role requires strong scientific expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to manage stakeholder expectations while ensuring high quality, compliance, and timely delivery. Ability to contribute beyond execution by guiding project strategy, supporting junior writers, and actively resolving content and process challenges, while operating under the direction of the Associate Director or Medical Communications Director.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Location: Hyderabad #Hybrid

Scientific Writing & Content Development

• Independently develop high‑quality, scientifically rigorous medical and scientific documents, including (but not limited to) manuscripts (primary and review), abstracts, posters and oral presentations, slide decks and medical education materials, congress, advisory board, and internal medical assets

• Interpret and synthesize complex clinical data from multiple sources (e.g., CSR, SAPs, publications) to create accurate, well‑structured narratives.

• Ensure content is evidence‑based, balanced, and audience‑appropriate.

Project Ownership & Execution

• Independently manage multiple complex projects across brands or therapeutic areas.

• Own the project lifecycle, including, timeline planning and adherence, coordination of reviews (internal, QC, CE, author), escalation and resolution of project risks or content challenges

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure milestones are met.

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a key scientific writing contact for assigned projects.

• Effectively engage with Medical Communications Directors, internal reviewers, subject‑matter experts, external authors, as required

• Lead or actively participate in author and stakeholder meetings and teleconferences.

• Proactively manage feedback and address conflicting inputs in alignment with internal stakeholder or reviewers.

Quality, Compliance & Process Adherence

• Ensure all deliverables meet defined quality standards, comply with internal SOPs, process maps, and templates, align with publication and medical communication best practices (e.g., GPP3)

• Perform and oversee QC review, data checks, and reference verification for assigned deliverables.

• Maintain audit readiness through accurate documentation, tracking, and archiving.

Coaching, Knowledge Sharing & Team Support

• Provide informal mentoring and guidance to junior scientific writers, including content review support, process guidance, and quality expectations

• Support onboarding and skill development activities as required.

• Contribute to team knowledge sharing, best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Strategic & Value‑Add Contributions

• Provide tactical input into publication planning and sequencing, as appropriate.

• Apply judgment to recommend optimal formats, storytelling approaches, or submission strategies within defined frameworks.

• Support process optimization and efficiency initiatives at the team level.

Essential Requirements:

• 3-5 years of scientific or medical writing experience, preferably in a pharmaceutical or medical communications environment.

• Demonstrated experience delivering increasingly complex scientific documents with minimal supervision.

• Strong understanding of publication and medical communications workflows.

• Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationship in a matrix and multicultural environment.  

• Advanced scientific writing and data interpretation skills

• Strong project ownership and prioritization abilities

• Effective stakeholder communication and collaboration

• High attention to detail and quality mindset. Ability to mentor and guide junior team members

Desirable Requirements :

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or healthcare‑related field

• Desirable: Advanced degree (MSc, PhD, PharmD, MD)

• Availability and willingness to work and be available during US business hours (up to 8:00 p.m. IST or 10:30 a.m. EST), schedule coordination in advance to ensure US Holiday coverage, and on call for critical matters, based on business needs. ​

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and accommodation

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to diversityandincl.india@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Skills Desired

Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Curious Mindset, Databases, Drug Development, Job Description, Lifesciences, Medical Communication, Medical Information, Medical Writing, Military Intelligence, Patient Care, Physics, Technical Support

Experience Level

Senior Level